Just 9 minutes of exercise a day ‘slashes your risk of dying young by a FIFTH’

LIFTING heavy weights for just nine minutes per day could slash your risk of an early death – and it could be easier than you think.

A study found only 30 to 60 minutes of muscle-strengthening activity is enough to boost health.

But the exercises don't need to be lifting weights at the gym or doing push-ups and sit-ups.

Carrying heavy shopping, digging in the garden, yoga, pilates and training with resistance bands can all count towards the time.

Experts at Tohoku University in Japan said heavy lifting cut the risk of early death by between 10 and 17 per cent compared to people who did not do any.

Writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Dr Haruki Momma said: “The maximum risk reduction for death, heart disease and cancer was obtained with approximately 30 to 60 minutes per week of muscle-strengthening activities.

“And the risk of diabetes sharply decreased until 60 minutes per week of muscle-strengthening activities, followed by a gradual decrease.”

The scientists said the biggest benefit came from the first hour and that it was “unclear” whether doing extra exercise was any better.

They added that working on fitness, for example by fast walking, swimming or cycling, as well as lifting weights could slash risks even further.

It comes as a separate study on mice found that lounging around switches off a protein in the body which makes it harder to start exercising.